Super Rugby Pacific teams named: Hurricanes lose another No 10 as Harry Godfrey sidelined

Wednesday, 26 March 2025

The Hurricanes have been forced to sideline another first five-eighth after revealing Harry Godfrey, who has hurt his lower leg, has been ruled out of Super Rugby Pacific for approximately six weeks.

Godfrey’s misfortune means Riley Hohepa will start at No 10 against the Waratahs in Wellington on Friday night.

Harry Godfrey of the Hurricanes is injured.

The Hurricanes haven’t been able to select from a full quota of first-fives this year because of injuries; Brett Cameron was ruled out for the season because of a knee injury, and Lucas Cashmore hasn’t played a second of competitive footy after hurting his knee.

That has resulted in Hohepa, who had previously been on the Crusaders’ roster, being thrust into the playmaker’s role for the fixture at Sky Stadium.

Meanwhile, this weekend’s round looks like it’s been sawn off at the knees because the Blues, Chiefs and Fijian Drua have the bye.

As the Chiefs players get out the golf clubs and grace the fairways, they should be able to focus solely on reducing their handicaps and, perhaps, winning a few bucks off their mates rather than fretting about rugby.

The Blues and Drua, however, may not be in such a privileged position. After winning just one game each in the opening six rounds they should be worried.

But there’s nothing they can do until they return to work next weekend.

The four games will be played in Wellington, Canberra, Christchurch and Brisbane.

This is a big weekend for the Hurricanes and Highlanders. They sit outside the top six - as do Moana Pasifika.

The Crusaders, who sit second on the competition table behind the Chiefs, can breathe a little easier. They host cellar dwellers, Moana Pasifika, in Christchurch on Saturday.

Hurricanes v Waratahs

Asafo Aumua will start at hooker for the Hurricanes.

Friday, 7.05pm at Sky Stadium, Wellington

Hohepa has been handed his first Hurricanes start at No 10 with key playmaker Godfrey sidelined.

In a continuation of the Hurricanes’ first-five injury curse, Godfrey limped off during the tense 20-18 win over the Highlanders before last weekend’s bye. He remained in a moon boot at Hurricanes training two days out from their home clash with the Waratahs.

Counties Manukau pivot Hohepa, 30, has trained with the Chiefs, Crusaders, Moana Pasifika and Hurricanes squads and now gets his chance in the hot seat in Wellington after several cameos off the bench this season.

Cameron and Cashmore remain on the injured list (although Cashmore is nearing a return), and Ruben Love is still preferred at fullback with minimal alternatives at No 15.

It is one of four changes made by coach Clark Laidlaw to the Hurricanes starting XV from that Highlanders win - just their second of 2025.

The other three are up front, with All Blacks front-rowers Asafo Aumua and Tyrel Lomax both getting their first starts after pre-season injuries, and regular No 8 Brayden Iose moved to blindside flanker with Brad Shields on the bench.

All Blacks centre Billy Proctor is still 4-6 weeks away from returning from an achilles injury, Laidlaw said, while second-five Riley Higgins (broken hand) could potentially be considered next weekend.

Hurricanes: Ruben Love, Ngatungane Punivai, Bailyn Sullivan, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Kini Naholo, Riley Hohepa, Cam Roigard, Peter Lakai, DuPlessis Kirifi (co-capt), Brayden Iose, Zach Gallagher, Caleb Delany, Tyrel Lomax, Asafo Aumua (co-capt), Xavier Numia. Reserves: Jacob Devery, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Tevita Mafileo, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Brad Shields, Jordi Viljoen, Fatafehi Fineanganofo, Kade Banks.

Soane Vikena of the Highlanders charges forward during the match against the Reds at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin last weekend.

Brumbies v Highlanders

Friday, 9.35pm at GIO Stadium, Canberra

Finn Hurley (quad), Nikora Broughton (ribs) and All Blacks prop Ethan de Groot have all dropped out of the Highlanders 23 after the loss to the Reds.

Coach Jamie Joseph said he was mindful of managing de Groot's workload, but was also giving him the chance to freshen up in a bid to find top form.

Jona Nareki, Sam Gilbert, Fabian Holland and Daniel Lienert-Brown return to the starting lineup, and Timoci Tavatavanawai reclaims the No 12 jersey as Tanielu Tele’a is demoted to the bench.

Joseph said Tele'a was paying the price for making too many mistakes against the Reds last week, while he felt Hurley had returned prematurely against the Reds last week and was now out for an unknown period of time with his quad issue.

'I'm not sure he was right,' Joseph said. 'He's a young fellow, wants to play, wants to help his teammates, but it's a big stage out there in front of all of his home fans.

'Perhaps he came back a little bit early and didn't understand the magnitude of that match.'

Taranaki pair Michael Loft and Adam Lennox are both in line for debuts off the bench, with the Highlanders hoping that halfback Lennox's running game could prove important in the second half.

James O'Connor will start at No 10 for the Crusaders.

Highlanders: Sam Gilbert, Caleb Tangitau, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Timoci Tavatavanawai (capt), Jona Nareki, Taine Robinson, Nathan Hastie; Sean Withy, Veveni Lasaqa, Te Kamaka (TK) Howden, Mitch Dunshea, Fabian Holland, Saula Ma'u, Soane Vikena, Daniel Lienert-Brown. Reserves: Henry Bell, Josh Bartlett, Sefo Kautai, Will Stodart, Michael Loft, Adam Lennox, Ajay Faleafaga, Tanielu Tele’a

Crusaders v Moana Pasifika

Saturday, 7.05pm at Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch

Former Wallaby James O'Connor will make his first start for the Crusaders this weekend.

O'Connor has replaced 21-year-old Taha Kemara, who is being rested after starting the first five games of the season, in the No 10 jersey, while Rivez Reihana will provide cover off the bench for the first time this year.

Ardie Savea returns as captain for Moana Pasifika.

In what head coach Rob Penney confirmed was a nod to Moana Pasifika, he's refrained from resting his All Blacks en masse.

Wing Sevu Reece is the only one sitting out the match at Apollo Projects Stadium, while hooker Codie Taylor and prop Tamaiti Williams have been shifted to the bench.

All Blacks captain Scott Barrett will start despite coming off at halftime against the Blues last week with a tight hamstring, and flanker Ethan Blackadder (quad) is back after missing the past two games.

Crusaders: Will Jordan, Chay Fihaki, Dallas McLeod, David Havili (capt), Macca Springer, James O'Connor, Noah Hotham, Fletcher Anderson, Ethan Blackadder, Cullen Grace, Jamie Hannah, Scott Barrett, Fletcher Newell, Ioane Moananu, George Bower. Reserves: Codie Taylor, Tamaiti Williams, Seb Calder, Quinten Strange, Xavier Saifoloi, Mitch Drummond, Rivez Reihana, Levi Aumua.

All Blacks loose forward Ardie Savea has returned from a hamstring injury in a major boost for Moana Pasifika’s visit to Christchurch.

Savea returns as captain at No 8. Wing Solomon Alaimalo has recovered from a shoulder problem to start in place of Kyren Taumoefolau, who is unavailable because of a similar injury.

There are five changes in their pack, with Tito Tuipulotu and Feleti Sae-Ta'ufo'ou starting as props, Samuel Slade promoted to lock and Semisi Paea making his first start of the season at openside flanker.

Tevita Ofa will also start on the right wing for the first time as Tana Umaga’s side target their first win against the Crusaders.

Moana are bottom with a 1-4 record and their only victory was over the Hurricanes in Albany in round four.

Moana Pasifika: William Havili, Tevita Ofa, Pepesana Patafilo, Lalomilo Lalomilo, Solomon Alaimalo, Patrick Pellegrini, Jonathan Taumateine; Ardie Savea (capt), Semisi Paea, Miracle Faiilagi, Allan Craig, Samuel Slade, Feleti Sae-ta'ufo'ou, Millennium Sanerivi, Tito Tuipulotu. Reserves: Sama Malolo, Abraham Pole, Chris Apoua, Tom Savage, Alamanda Motuga, Melani Matavao, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Tuna Tuitama.